To the public of Bermuda,

The staff and students of the CedarBridge Academy ‘African Connections Tour’ would like to express our sincerest thanks to the public for their contributions in our efforts to expose students to a higher level of cultural and educational understanding of our world, and our own community. We are most appreciative of your support whether it was given verbally, financially, or through other forms of assistance in the many fundraising activities such as Trashathon/Walkathon, an International Potluck Dinner, and packing groceries.

There were 28 students and 6 chaperones excited to embark on what we thought would be an adventure of a lifetime. We were astonished and overwhelmed by the rare beauty and sometimes abject poverty of our surroundings. It was indeed a unique, exhilarating experience which was life changing. From the moment we left our island emotions were running high.

We arrived early in Casablanca to begin our three day tour of the city as well as the cities of Fez, and Rabat. While touring in and between these ancient cities we visited mosques, a medina/market, ancient Roman ruins and various places linked with the royal family. One memorable moment that left an everlasting impression on the group was walking and visiting in the medina. While there we saw how leather and silver products manufactured in a way that has not changed for over a millennium. Students were fully engaged as a silversmith explained and went to work fashioning sheets of silver without the use of machinery. We also visited a leather tannery, and carpet factory Our tour guide left us speechless as on one occasion she sang in her native tongue as we journeyed between cities. It was one of various moments that brought to life the warmth of the Arabian influenced North African kingdom.

Time in Morocco passed quickly and before we knew it we were on our way to Senegal. The feeling that we had returned to the motherland struck many of the group as we were welcomed back as family “the lost children of the African Diaspora.” To be greeted so warmly even at the late hour of our arrival impressed and astonished all of us. Our first day touring Dakar endeared us even more as we had the wonderful opportunity of visiting a crafts workshop. The imagination and craftsmanship were evidenced everywhere as we were treated to song, dance, art work, and food in one visit to this unique craft centre. Everyone was fascinated by the art painting and the thorough explanation of the materials used.

The highlight of our tour was indeed our tour of Goree Island (the slave island at the most westerly geographic point of Africa). It was a moving and emotional endeavour for some to relive the dark days of the Slave Trade via a slave house. The slave house was closed exclusively for us for a private tour, and the curator of the museum retold the story as if he had lived at that time. This was the slave house for the legendary ‘Kunta Kinte’ before his transport to America and it was plain to see what was going on in everyone’s minds as we stood at the ‘door of no return.’ We could envision the departure of the slave boats as we had panoramic views from the highest points of the island, wondering if this might have been where some of our ancestors may have passed through. The experience came full circle when we then visited the Northwestern tip of Senegal and re-entered Africa through the symbolic ‘door of return’ constructed by the Senegalese government. (see attached photo)

Another memorable moment for our students was the warm welcome we received upon visiting one of two schools in St. Louis, Senegal. After donating supplies, playing football (with students on concrete who either played with sandals or bare foot), igniting friendships, and embodying the warmth of their students, many were left with tears and short of words as we left the school grounds. Many students viewed their schooling in Bermuda in a whole new light after visiting Senegal and said that education is a thing that they valued even more.

We were then afforded a few opportunities to visit native villages; one, a Fulani village located near Pink Lake in Senegal and the second across the Senegalese border in Mauritania. One of our male students expressed, “This gives me a new perspective on life.”

Such words were spoken by many who were a part of our African tour at different moments, and reinforced to the chaperones that we had accomplished our objectives. Our objectives were as follows:

(1) To improve students communicative skills in dealing with people of diverse cultures.

(2) To immerse students in diverse languages and cultural environments.

(3) To visit places of educational interest within the African Diaspora.

(4) To improve students understanding of our global world.

(5) To network with students of other cultures and share experiences.

(6) To afford students opportunities to gain appreciation for other cultures and to foster a better appreciation of their own culture.

(7) To validate curriculum in Social Studies, Foreign Language and Media Communications by exposing students to real life experiences.

(8) To promote the development of life long learners

(9) To create documentary evidence that can be used in the future at all levels of education in Bermuda. We also aspire to share the knowledge gained with the wider community by holding seminars to disseminate our African experiences.

(10) To promote positive social development and instill a deeper sense of pride in the African culture and thus themselves as prospective future leaders of Bermuda.

List of Sponsors

Bank of Bermuda HSBC

Island Construction - Zane De Silva

Bermuda Union of Teachers

BTEC

David Ezekial

Atlantic Stitches

TeleBermuda

GET Fit

Lindo’s Family Foods

Destiny’s Call

Anonymous donations